"I Am the Vine"

As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of the Star of the Sea Parish Choir - English Community (Chaiwan Hong Kong) presenting "I Am the Vine":

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Today the Church celebrates the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 9:26-31, 1 John 3:18-24, and John 15:1-8. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 22 (Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32). 

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: I Will Praise You, Lord, In the Assembly of Your People. Psalm 22 (B050)

The Gospel reading is as follows: 

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sunday Reflections: Fifth Sunday of Easter May 2, 2021

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 2, 2021)

Crossroads Initiative: Saul of Tarsus - From Sour Grapes to Fruit of the Spirit

St. Paul Center: On the Vine: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality: Fifth Sunday of Easter

The Gregorian Institute at Benedictine College: This Sunday, How to Tell If You are Christian (29 APR 21)

The Quiet Corner: Faith and charity are the foundation stones on which the Christian life rests and grows (29 APR 21)

Word on Fire: Becoming a Friend, Healer, and Teacher (Cycle B * Easter * Week 5)

National Catholic Register: Sunday Guide: Easter Exhortation: 'Bear Much Fruit' (29 APR 21) 

Spirituality of the Readings: Cutting Back (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B) 

In Exile: On Naming the Present Moment (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B) 

Glancing Thoughts: Be Fruitful and Multiply (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B)

The Perspective of Justice: The Vine (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B)

The Word Embodied: Radical Faith (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B)

Let the Scriptures Speak: Persecutor Turned Promoter (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B)

Historical Cultural Context: God the Patron (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B) 

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Augustine (5th Sunday of Easter - Year B)

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings You have in store for us during this month of May.

Msgr. Pope on Jesus' Questions that We Should Answer

"One of the bigger mistakes one can make is to read Scripture as a spectator, treating it as merely a collection of stories and events that took place thousands of years ago. While these are historical accounts, they are much more than that. . . .

"The Scriptures are our own story. To read scripture as a mere spectator is to miss the main point.

"In the light of this, there emerges another key to unlocking the meaning of the Scriptures: Answer the questions! One of the many things Jesus did was to ask a lot of questions. Whenever you read the Gospels and Jesus asks a question of someone, answer it. Do not wait to see how Peter, or Magdalene, or the Pharisees, or the crowd respond. You answer the question, in your own words. This brings Scripture powerfully alive."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on some of the questions asked by Jesus that we should answer prayerfully and reflectively.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: 100 Questions Jesus Asked and You Should Answer (18 APR 21)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"In life, the worst anxiety, arises from the sensation of not being able to cope. We need Jesus' help. And so we can say to Him: 'Jesus, I believe you are beside me and that you are listening to me. I bring to you my troubles. I have faith in you and I entrust myself to you'." - Pope Francis

Jay Black And The Americans: "This Magic Moment"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Jay Black and The Americans presenting "This Magic Moment":

 

Prayer Marathon for End of Pandemic Initiated at Vatican

"Pope Francis led the faithful in the recitation of the Holy Rosary on Saturday to inaugurate a 'Marathon of Prayer' for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In a press release announcing the initiative, the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization explains that 'in response to the Holy Father's heartfelt wish, the month of May will be dedicated to a "marathon" of prayer, to ask for the end of the pandemic, which has afflicted the world for more than a year now, and to ask for the resumption of social and work activities.'"

For more information about this Vatican initiative, please visit:

Vatican News: Pope opens Marathon of Prayer with Rosary in Vatican Basilica (1 MAY 21)

Holy Father's Prayer Intention for May

The Holy Father's prayer intention for May is: 

The world of finance: "Let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers."

Saint Joseph the Worker

Today the Church celebrates Saint Joseph under the title of Saint Joseph the Worker - as I have noted previously, one of my favorite observances of the Church year. It is special to me because it underlines in a real way that when a person does his/her work, he/she is continuing God's work of creation and ministering to His people.

"Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ."- Colossians 3:23-24

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Prayer for the Spirit of Work (source unknown):

God our Father, Creator and Ruler of the universe, in every age you call us to use and develop our gifts for the good of others. With St. Joseph as our guide, help us to do the work you have asked and come to the rewards you have promised. Please grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For further reflection:

Pope Saint John Paul II's Encyclical on Human Work, promulgated 14 September 1981:

Pope John Paul II: "Laborem exercens" (on Human Work)

Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical, "Charity in truth", promulgated 29 June 2009:

Pope Benedict XVI: "Caritas in veritate" (Charity in truth)

P.S. There is a shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph the Worker in Lowell, Massachusetts. Its web site may be visited here:

St. Joseph the Worker Shrine, Lowell, MA    

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of the truth-seeking efforts of scientific inquiry.

Angelo Stagnaro on the Catholic Church and the Scientific Method

"According to Geoffrey Lloyd's Science in Ancient Civilizations, there have been exactly seven civilizations that pursued objective, scientific knowledge in human history. However, only one of those civilizations, Christian Europe, was able to create the sustainable modern science that we use today. . . .

"Roger Bacon was a 13th-century English priest, philosopher, scientist, logician and Franciscan friar who emphasized the study of nature through empirical observation. There is a long tradition among Franciscans of emulating St. Francis of Assisi, their Spiritual Father, who was a keen observer and admirer of Nature. Bacon is credited with creating and formalizing the world's most coherent scientific method without which modern science wouldn't have been created and persisted until this day. . . .

"The scientific method is an empirical method of learning about the universe around us. It involves careful observation and rigorous skepticism about what is observed because biased assumptions can distort how one interprets data, as in the case of amateur atheist historians."

In a recent commentary, writer Angelo Stagnaro reflected on the relationship between the Catholic Church and the scientific method.

To access Mr. Stagnaro's complete post, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Blogs: Angelo Stagnaro: The Scientific Method is a Catholic Method (30 APR 21)

Reflection Starter from Benjamin Franklin

"Hide not your talents, they for use were made, What's a sundial in the shade?" - Benjamin Franklin